The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

while the latter was about to swallow him. It
was he who afflicted (the Daitya city of Hiranyapura)
on the other side of the ocean, having vanquished
in battle sixty thousands of Nivatakavachas. It
was this conqueror of hostile towns, this Arjuna of
mighty arms, that gratified Agni, having vanquished
the very gods with Indra at their head. And Narayana
also hath, in this world, destroyed in the same way
numberless other Daityas and Danavas. Even such
are those two of mighty energy that are now seen united
with each other. It hath been heard by us that
the two heroic and mighty car-warriors, Vasudeva and
Arjuna, that are now united with each other, are those
same ancient gods, the divine Nara and Narayana.
Amongst all on earth they are incapable of being vanquished
by the Asuras and the gods headed by Indra himself.
That Narayana is Krishna, and that Nara is Falguna.
Indeed, they are one Soul born in twain. These
two, by their acts, enjoy numerous eternal and inexhaustible
regions, and are repeatedly born in those worlds when
destructive wars are necessary. For this reason
their mission is to fight. Just this is what
Narada, conversant with the Vedas, had said unto the
Vrishnis. When thou, O Duryodhana, wilt see Kesava
with conch-shell and discus, and mace in hand, and
that terrible wielder of the bow, Arjuna, armed with
weapons, when thou wilt behold those eternal and illustrious
ones, the two Krishnas seated on the same car, then
wilt thou, O child, remember these my words.
Why should not such danger threaten the Kurus when
thy intellect, O child, hath fallen off from both
profit and virtue? If thou heedest not my words,
thou shalt then have to hear of the slaughter of many,
for all the Kauravas accept thy opinion. Thou
art alone in holding as true the opinion, O bull of
the Bharata race, only three persons, viz., Karna,
a low-born Suta’s son cursed by Rama, Sakuni,
the son of Suvala, and thy mean and sinful brother
Dussasana.’

’Karna said. ’It behoveth thee not,
O blessed grandsire, to use such words towards me,
for I have adopted the duties of the Kshatriya order
without falling off from those of my own. Besides,
what wickedness is there in me? I have no sin
known to any one of Dhritarashtra’s people.
I have never done any injury to Dhritarashtra’s
son; on the other hand, I will slay all the Pandavas
in battle. How can they that are wise make peace
again with those that have before been injured?
It is always my duty to do all that is agreeable to
king Dhritarashtra, and especially to Duryodhana,
for he is in possession of the kingdom.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ’Having listened
to these words of Karna, Bhishma the son of Santanu,
addressing king Dhritarashtra, again said, ’Although
this one often boasteth saying,—­I shall
slay the Pandavas,—­yet he is not equal
to even a sixteenth part of high-souled Pandavas.
Know that the great calamity that is about to overtake
thy sons of wicked souls, is the act of this wretched